Supreme Court rules against handgun ‘straw purchase’

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Supreme Court rules against handgun ‘straw purchase’

(CNN) — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a Virginia man who made a “straw purchase” of a handgun on behalf of his uncle in another state.

In a 5-4 decision closely watched by gun rights advocates, the court ruled the “actual transferee/buyer” must disclose any intent to resell at the time of purchase.

At issue is whether any such misstatement is “material” to the otherwise lawfulness of the sale, the kind of information that should be kept by a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Federal authorities say Bruce Abramski, a former police officer, illegally told a Virginia gun dealer he was the “actual buyer,” then sold the Glock weapon to his uncle in Pennsylvania. Abramski said the law goes too far, since both he and his relative are legally able to own the weapon.